Fire stations and jobs cut amid 'funding gap'

The Fire Brigades Union said "losing further firefighter posts will put lives at greater risk"

The number of fire stations on the Isle of Wight will be cut and 16 firefighter posts in Hampshire will be lost as the fire service grapples with a "funding gap" and lack of on-call firefighters.

Cuts of £1.6m will see Bembridge fire station close while Yarmouth and Freshwater will combine, operating two fire engines out of Freshwater.

Introduction of a new type of vehicle will result in 16 firefighter posts being cut across Redbridge and Cosham.

The Fire Brigades Union is urging Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to use its reserves to plug the gap while it campaigns for more government funding.

Other cuts include the removal of one of the island's two aerial ladder platforms, while the number of middle managers is also being reduced.

Chief fire officer Neil Odin said: "We have taken every step we can to protect the frontline as far as possible.

"This has been a decision that no chief fire officer wants to make but our funding position leaves us no choice.

"There have been two decades of under-investment in the fire and rescue service nationally while at the same time we have seen demand increasing."

Mr Odin ruled out taking the shortfall from reserves saying it would "deplete the funding we have for investment in equipment, fleet, technology and maintaining our estate".

Neil Odin said the service's funding position left it with no choice

FBU regional secretary Mark Chapman said: "Firefighters, councillors, members of the public and the fire authority have all made it clear that these cuts threaten public safety.

"Hampshire and Isle of Wight is already on the brink. Losing further firefighter posts will put lives at greater risk."

Bembridge has not responded to callouts since 2020 due to a lack of on-call firefighters, with cover provided by Ryde.

The fire service said there would be no redundancies at Redbridge and Cosham, with the posts "managed through turnover".

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously said fire authorities received almost £3bn in the last financial year.

It said: "We understand the challenges that fire services are facing, and despite the inheritance this government has been left with, we are determined to deliver better public services through our Plan for Change."